Drive for an amusement ride

ABSTRACT

A amusement ride has a positionally fixed supporting structure on which transport devices for persons circulate. A rope drive conveys the transport devices about the supporting structure. The rope drive has one single closed-loop conveying rope which, in being crossed over by way of a deflecting device, forms two rope loops which engage on the transport devices.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of Austrianapplication A 1906/2005, filed Nov. 24, 2005; the prior application isherewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an amusement ride with a positionally fixedsupporting structure on which transport devices for persons circulate. Arope drive is provided for moving the transport devices about thesupporting structure.

An amusement ride of the type is described in European published patentapplication EP 459 789. There, the transport devices are cabins drivenby way of two endless drive ropes which are driven by a motor. Thedisadvantage of that embodiment is that it is only possible with a veryhigh degree of technical expenditure to ensure that the two separaterope loops run synchronously, since it is not sufficient to run the twodrives at the same rotational speed because even small differences indiameter or circumference of the drive disks would lead to differentconveying speeds of the two rope loops.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an amusementride and a drive therefor which overcome the above-mentioneddisadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of thisgeneral type and which ensures that the two rope loops runsynchronously.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, inaccordance with the invention, an amusement ride, comprising:

a positionally fixed supporting structure;

transport devices for persons circulating on said supporting structure;

a rope drive connected to move said transport devices about saidsupporting structure, said rope drive having a single closed-loopconveying rope; and

a deflecting device disposed to fold said single closed-loop conveyingrope into two rope loops engaging with said transport devices.

In other words, the objects of the invention are achieved on a genericamusement ride by providing one single closed-loop conveying rope which,in being crossed over by means of a deflecting device, forms two ropeloops which each engage on the transport devices, i.e., the transportmeans.

Since the invention provides only one single endless rope which isplaced around the supporting structure and connected to the transportmeans in two rope loops, synchronous running of the two rope loops isautomatically ensured.

Two embodiments are preferred for connecting the two rope loops to thetransport means.

One embodiment is characterized in that the conveying rope engages onthe transport means by way of a frictionally locking connection, and inthat at least one lockable pulley is mounted on the transport means,with the conveying rope bearing on said pulley. In this embodiment, theconnection is very simple since it is provided only by the frictioncaused by the conveying rope bearing firmly against a correspondingcontact region of the transport means, in particular against the runninggear thereof.

The other preferred embodiment is characterized in that the conveyingrope is connected to the transport means using detachable clamps. Thisembodiment ensures an even firmer connection between the conveying ropeand the transport means, though with a relatively high degree oftechnical expenditure for the detachable clamps.

With regard to the deflecting direction and the drive for the rope,there are substantially two preferred variants of the invention.

The two variants have in common that the deflecting device has two drivedisks which are mounted adjacent to one another so as to be coaxial, andin each case one pair of deflecting rollers, which are mounted adjacentto one another, at the run-in side before the deflecting device and atthe run-out side after the deflecting device.

The first variant is characterized in that the drive disks are driven inopposite directions, and in that the deflecting rollers are mounted withtheir axes parallel to one another.

The second variant is characterized in that the drive disks are drivenin the same direction, in that one pair of the deflecting rollers ismounted with their axes coaxial, in that the other pair of deflectingrollers is mounted with their axes inclined relative to one another, inthat a guide device is arranged in the region of said other pair ofdeflecting rollers, and in that the rope loops cross one another betweenthe guide device and said other pair of deflecting rollers.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject matter ofthe remaining subclaims.

Further advantages and features of the invention can be gathered fromthe following description of preferred embodiments of the invention withreference to the appended drawings.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the inventionare set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodiedin drive for ferris wheel, it is nevertheless not intended to be limitedto the details shown, since various modifications and structural changesmay be made therein without departing from the spirit of the inventionand within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however,together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be bestunderstood from the following description of specific embodiments whenread in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an amusementride according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows, on a larger scale, the entry and exit region of theamusement ride, and the drive disposed below the entry and exit region;

FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment of the connection of the conveying ropesto the cabins;

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the guidance of the cabins onrails;

FIG. 5 shows the drive of the amusement ride on a larger scale;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of the rope guidance system in the region of thedrive of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows an alternative variant of a drive; and

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the rope guidance system in the regionof the drive of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first,particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a perspective view of anamusement ride according to the invention. The device according to theinvention will also be referred to as a recreational device. In theexemplary embodiment, the device is illustrated as a “Ferris wheel.” Therecreational device has a positionally fixed, rigid supporting structure1 which is embodied, for example, as a rebar reinforced concrete ring,on which transport means 2 in the form of cabins circulate. The outerface 4 of the supporting structure is—with the exception of the entryand exit region 3 situated at the bottom—cylindrical, but may have ashape which deviates from this and be, for example, elliptical. In theentry region 3, the outer face 4 is straight in order to provide arelatively long horizontal entry region (not illustrated in detail) forthe passengers. The drive 5 is arranged below the entry region 3 and isin practice arranged in a machine housing so as to be hidden from view.

Rails 6 are attached to the outer circumferential face 4 of thesupporting structure 1, with running rollers 7, which are mounted on arunning gear 8 of the cabins 2, rolling on said rails. The individualcabins 2 are connected to one another and held at a defined distancefrom one another by means of one or more connecting ropes 9, referred toas interconnectors, which are fixedly connected by means of clamps 10 tothe running gear 8 of each cabin 2. It is also possible to provide otherinterconnectors instead of the connecting ropes 9. It is howeveradvantageous to use three connecting ropes 9 because this provides avery stable and secure connection between the cabins 2.

FIG. 3 also shows a further two pairs of running rollers 11 per runninggear 8, said further running rollers 11 serving to support the cabins 2when the latter are suspended in the entry and exit region 3 below thestructure 1.

Platforms, if appropriate with seats, are arranged in the cabins 2, saidplatforms being kept horizontal at all times by means of suitabledevices while the cabins rotate as they circulate around the supportingstructure 1.

The cabins 2 are driven by means of one single closed-loop rope 12which, in two loops 12 a and 12 b, engages at both sides of the cabins 2over the running rollers 7 on the running gear 8 of the cabins 2. Inthis embodiment, the running rollers 7 serve at the same time asfriction rollers so that, as a result of the synchronous progressivemovement of the two rope loops 12 a and 12 b, a propulsive force isexerted on the running rollers 7 by means of friction forces, saidpropulsive force moving the cabins 2 forwards. As a result of theselected form of force transmission, the cabins 2 move at half the speedof the two rope loops 12 a and 12 b of the conveying rope 12.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the running rollers 8 are of adifferent design to those in the embodiment of FIG. 3, specifically inthe form of a total of twelve running rollers, four pairs of which arearranged on one side of the rails 6, and the other four individualrollers of which roll on the opposite, inner side of the rails 6. Thenumber of running rollers can vary depending on loading.

FIG. 4 also illustrates a different form of connection between the ropeloops 12 a and 12 b and the running gear 8. In this embodiment, the ropeloops 12 a and 12 b engage on separate friction wheels 13 which,although being rotatably mounted on the running gear 8, can be locked sothat they do not rotate for normal operation. The cabins are conveyed atthe same speed as the rope loops 12 a and 12 b as a result of thefriction between the rope 12 and the friction wheels 13. The function ofthe rotatable mounting of the friction wheels 13 will be explainedfurther below.

Two drive disks 14, which are driven by motors 15, are provided in theregion of the drive 5, as can be seen in detail in a first embodiment ofthe invention in FIG. 5. The drives rotate at the same speed in oppositedirections. Synchronous running of the two drive disks 14 a, 14 b isobtained either by control-related means or by mechanically coupling thetwo drives. Above the drive disks 14 a, 14 b, two pairs of deflectingrollers 16 a, 16 b and 17 a, 17 b are provided, the rotational axes ofwhich are arranged-offset relative to one another. Said offsetarrangement of the deflecting rollers makes it possible for the two ropeloops 12 a and 12 b to cross in the region of the drive 5. In physicalterms, the rope of the rope loop 12 a which runs in from the left inFIG. 5 runs over the deflecting roller 16 a and the drive disk 14 a, isthen guided over the deflecting roller 17 b, and runs out of the drive 5in the rope loop 12 b. In contrast, the rope of the rope loop 12 b whichruns in from the left is guided over the deflecting roller 16 b to thedrive disk 14 b, and runs over the deflecting roller 17 a and out of thedrive unit 5 in the rope loop 12 a. In other words, the rope 12 isswitched from the rope loop 12 a through the drive unit 5 to the ropeloop 12 b, and from the rope loop 12 b to the rope loop 12 a.

Absolutely synchronous running of the two rope loops 12 a and 12 b isensured as a result of the two rope loops 12 a, 12 b being formed by onesingle closed-loop rope, so that it is ensured that the cabins 2 runwithout tilting, which not only minimizes the expenditure in mountingthe running gear 8 on the rails 6 of the supporting structure 1, butalso keeps the wear of the running gear and of the rails as low aspossible.

After assembly of the recreational device according to the invention,the drive 5 must initially be run-in. This is necessary since it is notpossible for the two drive disks 14 a and 14 b to be produced with sucha degree of accuracy that they have exactly the same diameter andcircumference, which is required since only one single encircling ropeis used, and the two rope loops 12 a, 12 b must therefore be driven atthe same speed.

The running-in process eliminates geometric differences between the twodrive disks 14 a and 14 b, primarily as a result of mechanical abrasionon the drive disks 14 a and/or 14 b. It is however advantageous if thecabins 2 do not have to be driven during said running-in process. It isfor this reason that the friction rollers 13 in the embodiment of FIG. 4are initially freely rotatable, so that the conveying rope 12 can rollon them without moving the cabins 2. The friction rollers 13 are onlylocked once the running-in process is complete, so that the cabins 2move at the same speed as the rope 12 as a result of the frictionallylocking connection between the rope 12 and the friction rollers 13.

As can be seen from the drawings, the rope 12 bears against the runningrollers 7 and friction rollers 13 from the outside so that, in additionto the taut connecting ropes 9, the taut rope 12 also presses therunning gears 8 of the cabins 2 firmly against the rails 6. At the startof the entry and exit region 3, however, the rope 12 moves away from therunning rollers 7 and the friction rollers 13 since the rope 12 isconveyed directly to the deflecting rollers 16 a, 16 b, whereas theguide track 4 with the rails 6 continues horizontally. Until contact isregained between the rope 12 and the running rollers 7 and frictionrollers 13 at the end of the entry and exit region 3, the cabins 2 aredriven by means of the connecting ropes 9, by means of which the runninggears 8 of the cabins 2 remain held pressed against the rails 6. Asmentioned, the running rollers 11 (FIG. 3) or the radially inwardlysituated running roller pairs 8 (FIG. 4) are additionally provided, saidrunning rollers 11 or running roller pairs 8 preventing the suspendedgondolas 2 from lifting off the rails 6.

Instead of a frictionally locking connection between the rope 12 and therunning gear 8 in the form of friction rollers 13 (FIG. 4) or runningrollers (FIG. 3), it is fundamentally also possible to provide otherforms of connection between the rope 12 and the running gears 8. Forexample, detachable coupling elements could be provided on the runninggears, by means of which detachable coupling elements the cabins 2 aredecoupled from the rope 12 at the start of the entry and exit region 3,and are coupled on again at the end of said region.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a drive 5. Twodrive disks 18 a and 18 b are again provided, though in this embodimentsaid drive disks 18 a and 18 b rotate in the same direction and arerigidly connected to one another by means of a shaft 21. The drive disks18 a and 18 b are driven by one or two motors 22, it being preferable touse two motors 22 since, if one motor fails, the operation of therecreational device can continue, if appropriate with reduced power, bydecoupling the failed motor from the shaft 21.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, two coaxially arrangeddeflecting rollers 20 a and 20 b are provided at the run-out side, andtwo deflecting rollers 19 a and 19 b, which are arranged adjacent to oneanother but with their rotational axes inclined relative to one another,are provided at the run-in side. In addition, a guide device 23 isarranged at the run-in side before the two deflecting rollers 19 a and19 b, said guide device 23 having two pulleys 24 a and 24 b which aremounted coaxially and rotate counter to one another. Here, the two ropeloops 12 a and 12 b cross in the region between the guide device 23 andthe two deflecting rollers 19 a and 19 b. In physical terms, the rope ofthe rope loop 12 a which runs in from the left in FIGS. 7 and 8 runsover the upper pulley 24 a of the guide device 23 to the deflectingroller 19 b and over the drive disk 18 b, is then guided over thedeflecting roller 20 b and runs out of the drive 5 in-the rope loop 12b. In contrast, the rope of the rope loop 12 b which runs in from theleft is guided through over the lower pulley 24 b of the guide device 23and below the rope of the rope loop 12 a, and runs over thedeflecting-roller 19 a, the drive disk 18 a and the deflecting roller 20a and out of the drive unit 5 in the rope loop 12 a.

Although the embodiment of the drive according to FIGS. 7 and 8 requiresan additional guide device 23 in comparison to the embodiment of thedrive according to FIGS. 5 and 6, the former embodiment has thementioned advantages regarding the synchronous drive of the two drivedisks 18 a and 18 b by means of the mechanical coupling provided by theshaft 21.

1. An amusement ride, comprising: a positionally fixed supportingstructure; transport devices for persons circulating on said supportingstructure; a rope drive connected to move said transport devices aboutsaid supporting structure, said rope drive having a single closed-loopconveying rope; and a deflecting device disposed to fold said singleclosed-loop conveying rope into two rope loops engaging with saidtransport devices.
 2. The amusement ride according to claim 1, whereinsaid transport devices are connected with said conveying rope by way ofa frictionally locking connection.
 3. The amusement ride according toclaim 2, which comprises at least one lockable pulley mounted on each ofsaid transport devices, with said conveying rope bearing on said pulley.4. The amusement ride according to claim 2, wherein said conveying ropeis connected to said transport device with detachable clamps.
 5. Theamusement ride according to claim 1, which comprises interconnectorsconnecting said transport devices to one another with a fixed spacing.6. The amusement ride according to claim 5, wherein said interconnectorsare formed by at least one rope that is fixedly connected to respectivesaid transport devices.
 7. The amusement ride according to claim 1,wherein said supporting structure is formed with rails and saidtransport devices carry running rollers for running on said rails. 8.The amusement ride according to claim 7, wherein wherein said transportdevices are connected with said conveying rope by way of a frictionallylocking connection, and said conveying rope is disposed to bear on anddrive said running rollers.
 9. The amusement ride according to claim 1,wherein said deflecting device has two drive disks mounted coaxially andadjacent one another, and one pair each of deflecting rollers mountedadjacent one another at a run-in side before said drive disks and at arun-out side following said drive disks.
 10. The amusement rideaccording to claim 9, wherein said drive disks are driven in mutuallyopposite directions, and said deflecting rollers are mounted with axesthereof parallel to one another.
 11. The amusement ride according toclaim 9, wherein said drive disks are commonly driven in a givendirection, a first pair of said deflecting rollers is mounted coaxially,and a second pair of deflecting rollers is mounted with axes thereofinclined relative to one another, and said guide device is disposed in aregion of said second pair of deflecting rollers, and said rope loopscross one another between said guide device and said second pair ofdeflecting rollers.
 12. The amusement ride according to claim 11,wherein said guide device is dispose before said second pair ofdeflecting rollers in a direction of motion of said rope.
 13. Theamusement ride according to claim 11, wherein said guide device has twocoaxially mounted pulleys.